For example, a pool swim or indoor gym workout don’t leverage the GPS, but instead various internal sensors and accelerometers – depending on the sport. If the maps were clearer you'd get away with this more, but as it is, I wouldn't use the Instinct 2 for these purposes at all.

Garmin Instinct® 2 Solar | Rugged GPS Smartwatch Garmin Instinct® 2 Solar | Rugged GPS Smartwatch

And again, this is with jungle conditions for the first portion, and cloud/jungle again for the last portion. There are profiles for a huge range of activities, with a multi-sport mode for events like triathlons and duathlons so you don't have to stop tracking between each stage. That said, it’s nice to have a backup payment system if I forget my wallet at home or want to grab coffee when my wallet’s zipped into my shirt and buried under three layers of camo. The Instinct 2 also supports Garmin Pay for making contactless purchases and paying for public transport, and you can use it to control the music on your phone without digging through your pockets for your handset.

You can have three messages ready to go on the watch, and you can edit which three on the Garmin Connect app. And while these units visually look near-identical from across the table, they’re entirely different inside – not just the hardware, but also far more importantly the software. Natalie Krebs is the Executive Editor of Outdoor Life, where she tackles everything from reporting digital features to producing podcast episodes.

Instinct 2 review | TechRadar Garmin Instinct 2 review | TechRadar

If you found this review useful, you can use the links at the bottom, or consider becoming a DCR Supporter which makes the site ad-free, while also getting access to a mostly weekly video series behind the scenes of the DCR Cave.Like other Garmin watches, the Instinct 2S Solar is compatible with Garmin dog tracking devices, such as the TT 15 mini collar on the setter, which is also tracked with the Alpha 200i unit clipped to the chukar hunter’s vest. In our tests, the Garmin Instinct 2S Solar lasted approximately two weeks with no sunlight exposure and an average of one workout per week. GPS accuracy is excellent though, and in our pre-measured 5km test, the Instinct 2 was accurate to within a handful of meters.

Garmin Instinct® 2S | Smaller-Sized Rugged GPS Smartwatch Garmin Instinct® 2S | Smaller-Sized Rugged GPS Smartwatch

It’s thoughtfully crafted and no-nonsense, but unlike the original Garmin Instinct, it’s is fun rather than austere. Now one notable difference between Fenix 7 and Instinct 2 Solar features is that the Instinct 2 won’t show you lux-hours. It now comes in solar- and non-solar-powered versions; different specific editions, including a tactical version with, er, “stealth mode”; and some of the craziest colors in the sports watch market. While the first-gen Instinct Series came preloaded with dozens of activities, the Instinct 2 lets you choose the activities you add to your watch. It’s a great option for many women and young adults, or anyone who’s not into a beefy display on their wrist.

After recently reviewing a fitness tracker with a color screen display, we wondered if we’d be underwhelmed by the monochrome display but the crispness of the display compensated for this.